No Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Without President Vladimir Putin and Me Together - President Donald Trump

No Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Without President Vladimir Putin and Me Together - President Donald Trump                                                                                                                                                                                                             WASHINGTON — May 15, 2025

  U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that meaningful progress in Ukraine peace negotiations will remain out of reach until he and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in person. Speaking to the BBC’s North America correspondent aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized the importance of his direct involvement in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I are together,” Trump declared. “You may like it or not, but that’s the reality. We need to fix this because a lot of people are dying.”

When asked if he was disappointed with the level of Russia's delegation to the recent peace talks in Turkey — which President Putin did not attend — Trump responded sharply. “Of course, he’s not going to go. He’ll go — but he thought I would be there,” he said. “If I’m not there, he won’t go.”

Trump’s remarks came amid renewed efforts in Turkey to restart stalled peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Ankara earlier this week, urging a face-to-face meeting with Putin, who remained absent. The Kremlin instead sent a delegation led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky.

Trump’s comments underscore the growing concern in diplomatic circles about the lack of high-level engagement from Moscow. While Ukrainian officials, including their president, foreign minister, and defense minister, attended in person, the Russian president’s absence has drawn criticism from Western leaders, who question the Kremlin’s sincerity in pursuing peace.

Meanwhile, both Ukraine and Russia reported attempted drone attacks on their territories overnight. Ukraine’s Air Force stated that Russia launched a massive barrage of 110 drones toward Ukrainian targets. Ukrainian defenses intercepted and shot down 62 of them, according to official military reports.

These attacks come amid intensified calls from NATO and Western leaders for a ceasefire and renewed negotiations, even as the ground realities show continued hostilities.

The Trump team has been working behind the scenes over recent months to establish a new peace framework, with Trump repeatedly promising to end the war swiftly if reelected. However, with little tangible progress and Russia’s top leadership reluctant to engage directly, the diplomatic deadlock persists.

As the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate and drone warfare intensifies, Trump’s latest comments spotlight both the urgency and the geopolitical complexities surrounding any potential resolution to the war.